Is it just me or is September a strange month? It feels so contradictory. As the start of the academic year, it feels like a time for busy-ness, getting back into the swing of things, and giving a final push before the calendar year ends. But at the same time, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a time when the weather starts to get colder, the buzz of summer wears off, and some of us start thinking about winding down for the end of the year. When September comes, I never know whether to power up or down!
Thankfully, the answer is written in the stars. Throughout this year, I’ve shared with you tips on how to use the astrological seasons as reflection points throughout the year — and we’ve arrived at the Fall Equinox!
What is the Fall Equinox?
The Fall Equinox, or Autumnal Equinox, is a point in time when the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator. That is, the Sun does not appear to be North or South of the equator but rather in line with it. This causes us to experience roughly equal hours of day and night across the world, hence the name equinox. There are two equinoxes every year: one in March and one in September.
The Fall Equinox is in September for those in the Northern Hemisphere and in March for those in the South. The energy of the Fall Equinox relates to harvesting and thanksgiving, and this can be seen in festivals around the world that take place at this time. For some, this September harvest festival marks the new year—for example, the Jewish new year celebration of Rosh Hashanah.
What does the Fall Equinox have to teach multipotentailites?
What does “harvesting” and “thanksgiving” look like for multipotentialites? As the Fall Equinox coincides with the start of Libra season, we can take inspiration from this sign of the zodiac. The symbol for Libra is a set of scales and the zodiac relates to harmony and balance — I think we can harness this energy to focus on balance in our relationships. As multipotentialites, the community we have around us can truly be make-or-break — for our careers and for our personal well-being.
The Fall Equinox is a perfect opportunity for us to take stock of what we’ve harvested so far this year, and to acknowledge the connections that have helped (or hindered) us on this journey. In taking time to acknowledge how different people have shown up for us, we can also reflect on how we have shown up for them and, where necessary, set an intention to redress the balance. Here’s a simple three-step ritual to guide you through this process.
As always, do your best to create the time, space and environment that will allow you to be fully present in this ritual. Block out time in your diary, put your phone on Do Not Disturb, create a clean, healing space, light some candles and get into the zone…
Step 1: Reap Your Harvest
Take some time to reflect on all the wins and achievements this year has brought so far. Write a list of your “harvest.” This could include anything from winning a new client to upgrading your living space to embedding a fitness routine that works for you. No harvest is too small!
Step 2: Name Your Helpers and Hinderers
Reading over this list, remind yourself of all the people who aided you in making these things happen. The friends who shared support and advice, the mentors who created opportunities, the family who provided free childcare. Equally, remind yourself of those who got in the way. The toxic relationships that distracted you, the flaky friends that let you down, the professional contacts who turned out to be all talk and no action.
Step 3: Rebalance The Scales
For each name you wrote on the list, it’s time to make a decision. Is there something you need to do to rebalance the scales of this relationship? Perhaps there is a friend who has been a consistent help to you but who you haven’t had the time or energy to pour into in the same way. What action can you take to let them know how valued they are? Maybe there’s a family member who has been a consistent burden to you while all you’ve shown them is grace. How can you set a boundary that prevents them from continuing to drain you?
By the end of this ritual, you will hopefully feel like a proud farmer looking over their yield. But you’ll also have some practical action points that will help you breathe new life into your support system — a very necessary act before the cold winter comes along!
Your turn
Let’s celebrate your harvest together! What are some of the achievements you’re proud of this year? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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